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Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 6)
A primary portion of the current project investment supports a demonstration partnership between NASA and DARPA. The objective of the partnership is to design, build, and flight demonstrate the first fission-based Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine (NTRE). The project is referred to as the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) demonstrator wherein NASA is managing the NTRE system and DARPA is managing integrated vehicle. The NTRE system for DRACO leverages NTP technology advancements for a fission reactor that produces the thermal energy needed to heat a liquid propellant. The goal is to operate the X-NTRV on orbit to include start, steady state operation, and shutdown; acquire in-space functional and performance data, and safely dispose of the X-NTRV post-operation.
Performing an NTP engine test in-space will serve to advance a propulsion capability that could potentially be evolved to support a cislunar and Mars transportation system. There are benefits that accrue even if flight is unsuccessful. This will be the first designed, built and integrated system test of an NTRE. Data generated will inform future NTP systems development. This will exercise the interagency regulatory basis for launching and operating a fission-based system that will benefit the launching and operating of concurrent and future nuclear systems: NTP, NEP, and Fission Surface Power (FSP). This demonstration will inform developers of the technology gaps that may need to be addressed for future operational flight systems. Additional NTP technology maturation is focused on ensuring that technologies and components needed to develop future operational NTP systems is available when needed. Advances in specific technologies and components may include fuels, moderators, control systems, structural components, propellant flow distribution systems, and modeling and simulation capabilities and others that enable more advanced NTP systems for human exploration missions beyond cis-lunar space.
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